Product category:
Tubeworking: bending, cutting-off, profiling and end working
News Release from: Unison | Subject: All-electric tube bending machine software
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 November 2006
Software ups electric tube bender
productivity
Fabricators of tubular products can achieve higher standards of quality and productivity using Unison software tools for its all-electric tube bending machinery.
Fabricators of tubing-based products will be able to achieve higher standards of quality and productivity using new software tools provided by Unison for its all-electric tube bending machinery Among the unique tools included in the latest release of the Unibend Control Software for Unison's tube bending machines are: detailed torque analysis software for each axis which allows fabricators to track tubing quality and compare suppliers, a utility that captures usage data to assist productivity analysis, and the ability to dynamically control the profile of the carriage push cycle - for even finer control of bend quality
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 12 Sep 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Unison enhances twin-head tube bender
Unison is announcing a new version of its all-electric twin-head CNC bending machinery offering broader application versatility.
Tube bender measures with laser to oust scrap
Claimed to be one of the highest-specification tube bending machines ever built, the machine's electronically-actuated bending axes are controlled by a laser measurement system.
Combined with the software's existing tube bending features, the launch is believed to provide manufacturers with the most finely-programmable and software-rich control of tube bending available worldwide.
Unison's Breeze family of tube bending machines use servo motors instead of hydraulic force to control the bend process, including clamp, pressure die, mandrel and follower.
This all-electric actuation provides significant benefits related to repeatability and energy consumption.
Further reading
Electric tube bender changes tools automatically
All-electric CNC tube bending machine can deliver virtually instant, software-controlled multi-stack tooling changeover between batches up to 150mm diameter tube.
Automated tube bending cell runs at EUR7/day
Automated tube bending cell integrates robot arm, loader, end-former, bender and inspection into space of typical tube bender and can fabricate thousands of parts/day EUR 7 running cost.
Automated tube bending cell is world's smallest
A robotic tube bending cell, claimed to be the world's smallest, can fabricate thousands of parts/day for running cost of around EUR 7 for mass production of items like automotive parts.
Following set up, all operating parameters are stored, allowing machines to be configured for further batches of parts in a few minutes, and without creating any scrap.
Further, as the actuation elements of the machine need energy only when a bend is being made, total consumption is greatly reduced.
A key element of all machines is Unibend Control Software, which exploits the underlying architecture to deliver versatile tube-bending capability.
One of the major additions in the new release of software is called Graph Analysis.
This utility captures data on the torque values that each machine axis applies during a programmed tube bending operation.
By comparing the torque data required to bend new material batches against a 'golden' example, the information can help to identify any changes in the quality of material, helping to track the ongoing performance of a manufacturer's tubing suppliers.
Another utility, called Performance Analysis, has been enhanced to record even more information on machine usage, including the timings of start and stop button presses, idle time, parts produced, etc This raw data on the productivity of a manufacturer's tube bending capital equipment can help a company's production management to generate a detailed picture of shop-floor operations, to aid in the analyses of operational efficiency and productivity.
A third major software addition is Carriage Push.
This utility allows programmers to dynamically control the movement of the carriage using a profile - complementing the programmable control already available over clamp, pressure die, mandrel and follower action.
This feature is expected to be of particular interest to users such as aerospace manufacturers, as it gives even finer control over the bending process to ensure quality results even when using the most expensive and thinnest-wall tubing materials.
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